Woman charged in husband's attempted murder dies at nursing home

Published: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 3:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 3:58 p.m.

OCALA – A 72-year-old woman who last month was charged with the attempted murder of her ailing husband has died.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said Thursday that Lydia Herrera died Wednesday morning of natural causes at the nursing home where she was staying after being released from the Marion County Jail.

Herrera had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Her husband, Jario Herrera, 82, remains at the nursing home. Officials said he has Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

On Jan. 29, Herrera and her husband were found slumped in their home after relatives and friends were unable to reach them.

Authorities considered it an attempted murder-suicide in which Lydia Herrera was the aggressor.

At first, the State Attorney's Office was not going to charge her. But after she and her husband were released from separate care facilities and both were back in their home, officials said they had to take steps to ensure their safety.

Herrera was arrested Feb. 19 on the charge of attempted murder. Her bail was set at $5,000, and she was placed on suicide watch.

Nine days later, she was released from the jail and taken to an assisted living facility. Jario Herrera was a resident at a different facility.

Attorneys from the State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office and other officials came together to find a way for the two of them to reunite. At the time of her death, the couple was together under supervised care, with the possibility of the supervision being removed.

<p>OCALA – A 72-year-old woman who last month was charged with the attempted murder of her ailing husband has died.</p><p>Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said Thursday that Lydia Herrera died Wednesday morning of natural causes at the nursing home where she was staying after being released from the Marion County Jail.</p><p>Herrera had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.</p><p>Her husband, Jario Herrera, 82, remains at the nursing home. Officials said he has Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.</p><p>On Jan. 29, Herrera and her husband were found slumped in their home after relatives and friends were unable to reach them.</p><p>Authorities considered it an attempted murder-suicide in which Lydia Herrera was the aggressor.</p><p>At first, the State Attorney's Office was not going to charge her. But after she and her husband were released from separate care facilities and both were back in their home, officials said they had to take steps to ensure their safety.</p><p>Herrera was arrested Feb. 19 on the charge of attempted murder. Her bail was set at $5,000, and she was placed on suicide watch.</p><p>Nine days later, she was released from the jail and taken to an assisted living facility. Jario Herrera was a resident at a different facility.</p><p>Attorneys from the State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office and other officials came together to find a way for the two of them to reunite. At the time of her death, the couple was together under supervised care, with the possibility of the supervision being removed.</p>